Rome and the Distant East: Trade Routes to the ancient lands of Arabia, India and China

ROME AND THE DISTANT EAST: TRADE ROUTES TO THE ANCIENT LANDS OF ARABIA, INDIA AND CHINA

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Rome and the Distant East Trade Routes to the Ancient Lands of Arabia, India and China

Raoul McLaughlin

Continuum UK The Tower Building 11 York Road London SE1 7NX

Continuum US 80 Maiden Lane Suite 704 New York, NY 10038

www.continuumbooks.com Copyright © Raoul McLaughlin 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission from the publishers. First published 2010 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 9781847252357

Typeset by Pindar NZ, Auckland, New Zealand Printed and bound by MPG Books Group Ltd

For my parents William John McLaughlin and Elizabeth Terry McLaughlin

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Acknowledgements

This book is based on a doctoral thesis completed at Queen’s University Belfast in 2006. When I was looking for a place to study Eastern trade I applied to many universities, but none could accommodate a subject so broad and ambitious. This work could only have been written in Belfast and I greatly appreciate how I was allowed to follow my academic interests under constructive direction and encouragement. I would like to thank my doctoral supervisor Dr John Curran, for without his guidance and support I would not have had the opportunity to investigate this subject. I would also like to thank Professor Brian Campbell and Dr Colin Adams for agreeing to be my doctoral examiners and acknowledge how much I have benefited from their advice. I was educated at Lagan College in Belfast, the first cross-community integrated school to be established in Northern Ireland. The college was founded with the aim of giving young people the opportunity to understand and respect all cultural and religious backgrounds without the divisions of race or social class. I have come to realize how skilfully the teaching staff, led by the principal Dr Brian Lambkin, promoted this ethos among us, without ever discouraging independent thought or undermining the social, or political, views of each individual. I have remained in contact with my school friends throughout my time at university. I especially thank Jenny Kirkwood for helping me with modern language translations and Mawuli Amoaku for offering me the opportunity to visit China. The early stages of my doctoral research were paid for by the Northern Ireland Department of Education and Learning, but I have funded subsequent study from my own resources. Queen’s University Belfast has hosted both my undergraduate study and my postgraduate research. I greatly value my university and I respect the skills and attitudes of its people, who have never discouraged me or disparaged my ideas. In Belfast, Ancient Historians are able to study in the same department as Social Anthropologists and Modern Historians. In this environment, history has a global context and the study of distant cultures has a distinct value. Doctor John Curran and Professor David Whitehead have given me the opportunity to teach tutorial classes in Republican Roman and Classical Greek history at the university. This experience has been invaluable and my position at Queen’s has given me access to library resources and research materials that I would not otherwise have been able to acquire. This has permitted me to pursue my studies long enough to complete this book. I would like to acknowledge my fellow ancient historians Chris McCoubrey and Jonathan Eton. They have offered me practical help and because they are scholars of the Roman military, our conversations have always been lively and interesting.

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AC K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

In particular Jonathan Eton has read early versions of my manuscript and has been able to provide valuable constructive criticism. Shaun McDaid is studying modern Ulster history, but he has always offered me support. Claire Rush, who has a background in Irish history, has also obtained rare books on my behalf and for this I owe her a debt of gratitude. As a student of Social Anthropology Gemma Wieberg uniquely understands the complexities of human society and I have valued her insights. This book is dedicated to my parents William and Elizabeth McLaughlin. They have had to accept that turning my doctoral research into a book has meant financial hardship and my father has worked beyond retirement age to offer me assistance. I must thank my brother Leon for taking the time and trouble to draft my maps and check my ancient references. My whole family, especially my sister Thayna, have given me immeasurable support and encouragement. To all the above, I acknowledge receipt of your kindness and consideration. Without you this book would not have been possible. Raoul McLaughlin Belfast June 2009

Contents

Illustrations Abbreviations

xi xiii

Introduction: Rome and the Distant East

1

1 Ancient Evidence for Eastern Contacts

7

2 Roman Egypt and the Sea Routes to India

23

3 Rome and the Arabian Trade Routes

61

4 Trade Routes through Asia and the Silk Road Connection

83

5 Diplomatic Contacts with the Distant East

111

6 The Economic Impact on the Roman Empire

141

Appendix A: The Products of the Roman Empire

179

Appendix B: Eastern imports into the Roman Empire

181

Appendix C: The Prices of Eastern Goods

182

Notes

183

Concerning the Ancient Sources

219

Select Bibliography

220

Index

231

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Illustrations

Between pages xiv and xix. Maps 1

The empires and territories of the Ancient World (first century AD).

2

The Indian Ocean (first century AD).

3

The Middle East (first century AD).

4

Strabo’s world view (early first century AD).

5

Pliny’s world view based on details in his Natural History (mid first century AD).

6

Claudius Ptolemy’s world view (mid second century AD).

Between pages 108 and 109. Plates 1

A group of Romans assembled near a merchant ship to hear a speech by the Emperor Trajan (illustration drawn from Trajan’s Column).

2

Detail from the Peutinger Map showing the Roman Temple of Augustus at Muziris in Tamil India.

3

A Palmyrene relief showing wealthy merchants leading a camel.

4

A gold coin of the king Kushan Huvishka. The reverse shows the god Pharro (Hermes–Mercury) holding a purse.

5

A Gandharan sculpture showing the death of the Buddha with a Greco-Roman figure in attendance.

6

A Gandharan carving depicting a scene from the Trojan War.

7

A Roman grave relief from Italy depicting the Peticii merchant family who had business interests in the distant East (Museo dell’Aquila).

8

An Indian statuette found at a house in Pompeii.

xii

I L LU S T R AT I O N S

9

A Roman mosaic showing how hunters captured tiger cubs (Hunt Mosaic, Antioch): ‘India produces the tiger which has tremendous swiftness. The hunter lies in wait to seize the tiger cubs, and then escapes on the fastest horse because, as soon as the female finds her lair empty, she springs into pursuit’ – Pliny the Elder in his Natural History.

10

A classical bust depicting a subject of the Roman Empire who adopted Buddhist beliefs (Museo Nazionale Romano).

Abbreviations

AE BE CIL CIS EI IG IGRR ILS Inv. O. Mich. O. Petr OGIS P. Lond. P. Mich. P. Tebt P. Vindob. RES SB SEG

L’année épigraphique. Bagnall, R. S. and Helms, C. and Verhoogt, A. M. F. W. (2000–), Documents from Berenike. Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth. Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum. Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum. Epigraphia Indica (produced by a variety publishers). Inscriptiones Graecae (Berlin 1873–). Inscriptiones Graecae ad Res Romanas Pertinentes. Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae. Cantineau, J. and Starcky, J. and Gawlikowski, M. (eds) (1930–), Inventaire des inscriptions de Palmyre. Beirut, Paris, Damascus. Greek Ostraca in the University of Michigan Collection. Ostraca in Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie’s Collection at University College, London. Dittenberger, W. (1903–1905), Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae. Kenyon, F. G. and Bell, H. I. (1893–), Greek papyri in the British Museum. London, British Museum Department of Manuscripts. Greek Papyri in the University of Michigan Collection. Grenfell, B. P. and Hunt, A. S. (eds) (1902–), The Tebtunis Papyri. London. Vindobensis Papyri, Austrian National Library, Vienna. Clermont-Ganneau, C. S. (eds) (1900–), Répertoire d’épigraphie semitique. Paris, Imprimerie nationale. Sammelbuch griechischer Urkunden aus Ägypten. Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum.

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